We’re back with a behind-the-scenes look at our recent photo shoot with the BHG team for Do It Yourself magazine and Kitchen + Bath Makeovers. They photographed our newly transformed nursery and recently renovated bathroom. The day was a blur of prepping, propping, shooting, eating, secret high-fives (mostly between John and me), and watching the pros work their magic.

The production filled our house with big fabric panels to soften outside light, camera lenses that felt more valuable than our car, and computers tethered to cameras so every photo could be reviewed and adjusted on the spot. It was a strong reminder of the effort behind the effortless-looking home photos you see in magazines. Below you can imagine the high-tech camera-to-computer setup, our nursery chair piled with toys during resets, and the shot list—a printed booklet from the magazine’s art director that guides the photographer and stylist through the images they need for the story.

One big lesson from the day: professional at-home shoots require being comfortable with people moving and rearranging your belongings. Items were sometimes gathered in a pile on a chair so they could quickly reset the scene. The glossy, flawless rooms in print often have piles of props and equipment just out of frame—extension cords, extra decor, and stacks of unused items. The good news is crews are careful and respectful; they return everything to its place (often cleaner than they found it).

In the middle of the controlled chaos we snagged a quick interview with Cat, the stylist, and Erik Johnson, the photographer. They shared practical tips and industry tricks—useful for anyone interested in home photography or styling for publication. While some techniques are a bit intense for casual shoots, they reveal why professional photos look so polished.

Erik’s first tip is to check your pride at the door and get into whatever position you need to capture the shot. That can mean lying on the floor, squeezing into tight corners, or, in our case, sitting on a ladder and shooting through an exterior window (screen removed) to achieve a wider angle. They even used a scrim—a strip of fabric—to diffuse harsh window light and create a softer, more ethereal glow. The difference in the final images was dramatic.

His second tip: always use a tripod. A steady camera produces crisp images and allows longer exposures without blur. It’s an easy improvement for anyone photographing interiors. You’ll also see pros experimenting with camera tilt and rotation—angling the camera up, down, or to the side instead of shooting straight on. Small angle changes can make compositions more dynamic and less static, so try a few different perspectives to find the most compelling view.

Abby Greenawalt, Erik’s assistant, offered two more photography tips. First: natural light is best. For our shoot they turned off interior lights and relied on window light combined with tripod stability to get clear, well-exposed images without the harshness of flash. Second: less is more. Instead of firing off hundreds of photos, take a shot, review it on a larger screen, tweak the composition, and then take the final image. Viewing images on a computer reveals issues you can miss on a tiny camera display and saves time in post-production.

Cat shared five practical styling secrets. Her number one: be a perfectionist. Stylists iron robes, wipe mirrors, and remove window screens to achieve a pristine look. Don’t assume magazine rooms are naturally that perfect—they’re often curated and detailed by a stylist. Tip two: cheat and fake where needed. Cat thickened towels by stuffing them with dishcloths and pulled shelving items forward so they caught the light better on camera. These small cheats create a plush, curated look that reads beautifully through the lens.

Her remaining tips are straightforward: repurpose items from other rooms when needed (a cup from the kitchen can become a bud vase), group accessories in threes for balanced visual appeal, and keep experimenting. There’s no single right answer for styling; mix textures and objects until the composition feels right for the photograph.

We enjoyed every minute with Erik, Abby, and Cat—especially the magazine-worthy spread they set out for lunch. The crew was professional, creative, and generous (they even left a few sandwiches behind). We’re grateful to the team and to Do It Yourself and Kitchen + Bath Makeovers for featuring our home and for organizing such a fun day.

Psst—If you liked this behind-the-scenes glimpse, we’ve shared other photo shoot stories before, including previous collaborations with the same crew and a few different magazine shoots that offer a similar backstage perspective.